TASKs for democracy

Step 3 (plenary debriefing – 20 minutes)
1. Participants will again look at the whole exercise, trying to clarify some key questions.
What can we conclude from this activity?
What does it tell us about intercultural learning?
How can we contribute to improving equal opportunity and intercultural communication in our
classrooms?
What can I do to open paths to an intercultural atmosphere?
How can I contribute to a more inclusive and shared school organisation?
2. Summarise and complement the participants’ comments.
PLANNING
Preparation
Make copies of the task sheets.
Resources and equipment
Task sheet 1 – Summary of the article/input
Task sheet 2 – Task sheet
Task sheet 3 – Intercultural school guide
Tips and potential difficulties
1. It is important that these groups be diverse regarding age, gender, geographical/ethnic origin, professional
roles, etc., so that the range of experiences can be wide and participants can profit from one
another’s ideas. It might be useful to allocate roles in the group to make sure everyone is responsible
for one or two aspects of the discussion process and the results (see Activity No. 6 to learn what roles
group members can take for equal participation).
2. Depending on the group’s size it is possible to fulfil more than one function. This will allow everyone
active participation in the group and avoid one person dominating communication. In addition, it fosters
participants’ awareness of their own and others’ resources, and promotes using these resources to build
knowledge for all.
FURTHER READING
Banks J. (1994), An introduction to multicultural education, Allyn and Bacon, Boston.
Cohen E. (1994), Designing group work: strategies for the heterogeneous classroom, Teachers’ College Press, New
York.
Ouellet F. (1991), L’Éducation Interculturelle: Essai sur le Contenu de la Formation des Maîtres, Éditions Harmattan,
Paris.
Rey-von Allmen M. (2004), “Towards an intercultural education”, in Mesić M. (ed.), Perspectives of multiculturalism
– Western and transitional countries, Faculty of Philosophy, Zagreb/Croatian Commission for UNESCO,
Zagreb, pp. 103-11, available at http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001375/137520e.pdf. Accessed
16 November 2014
TASKs for democracy Page 102